California King Heated
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California King Snake Setup?
Ok so I'm having a Banded California King Snake by august and I want to make sure I'm prepared. I have a 30 gallon tank, Aspen Bedding, Screen Lid, 2 hides(1 hot side, 1 cool side), and a Water Dish. I know I need a Zoo Med Under Tank Heater but, how do I use it? Like I just turn it on? How do I make the temperature exactly 85 degrees on the hot side and exactly 78 degrees on the cool side? My house is at 76 degrees. Please help. One last question, do I really need a heat lamp? And if so, what light bulbs do I need?
If you get the under tank heater buy either a thermostat or a reostat, if you buy a reostat you are gonna need a digital thermometer with a probe so you can put the probe directly over where the heat pad is. They are notorious for getting way to hot if you just plug it in. Thermostat is better honestly because unless you find a good deal your gonna spend just as much money on a thermostat as you would on a reostat and thermometer. I have a reostat and thermometer for my king snake, in a 30 gallon tank too, and after some tweaking it keeps the temperature right where i want it. Your house being at 76 degress is perfect. If you have the heat pad you don't necessarily need a heat lamp but you do need light so mind as well get one. If you can keep your cage hot enough with just the heat pad then go get a flourescent bulb that emits UV light but no heat. I just use a day blue full spectrum light that emits UVA and it works fine(its only a 50w and it does emit heat but for my set up it is perfect when used with the heat pad). You don't need UVB, if you feel like you want to go for it, but I don't see the point of it. Your going to have to play with your heat sources to get it right. You don't need it to be 78 on the cool side...if your house is at 76 degrees then that is fine, you don't need anything to heat the cool side. Make sure at night you turn the light off and if you do keep the heat pad on make sure it is on a low setting so it doesnt get too hot( i turn both of them off and my snake is fine with a solid temperature of 75 degrees at night). Also to help keep the heat up during the day I put a towel over the hot side of the cage and just leave enough space for the clamp lamp and this realllyyyyy helps keep the temperature right.